The place where you learn English

Just Enough English Grammar Illustrated

2009-01-23T10:14:00.000-08:00

Just Enough English Grammar Illustrated
Gabriele Stobbe

What This Book Contains

Just Enough English Grammar Illustrated requires no formal exposure to English grammar. The book is designed to give learners of English a basic grammar foundation. It may serve other students as a reference or review tool.
This book takes a practical approach. It does not focus on rules and definitions. Instead, it studies how words work and what they do in sentences.
The material is presented in an easy, step-by-step format. As the learner moves through the book, he or she will gain an understanding of the basic principles of the English language. These principles are laid out simply but thoroughly, and each new principle builds on what the student learned earlier in the book.
Real-life scenarios use interesting characters and engaging, simple vocabulary. Basic English structures presented in visually engaging graphics bring grammar alive and therefore increase the student’s desire to learn grammar.
Carefully designed graphic illustrations translate grammatical concepts into visual images. Each topic or grammar concept is clearly explained with relevant graphic illustrations. They make comprehension possible without wordy explanations.
Graphic organizers and Venn diagrams clarify concepts and help the reader review. They stimulate creative and logical thought processes, and also help the student to evaluate and categorize language structures.
Review Exercises and the Answer Key provide the learner with the opportunity to test his or her skills.
This book offers choices. It takes into account the different ways in which students learn and, accordingly, provides a variety of learning tools. From real-life scenarios to illustrations and graphic organizers, there is something for everyone.

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Speak English Like An American

2009-01-23T10:00:00.000-08:00

Speak English Like An American

by Amy Gillett

If you already speak some English and now would like to speak more like a native, you've found the right book. One of the keys to speaking like a native is the ability to use and understand casual expressions, or idioms. American English is full of idioms. You won't learn these expressions in a standard textbook. But you will hear them all the time in everyday conversations. You'll also meet them in books, newspapers, magazines, and TV shows. This book will help you understand and use idioms better. It contains over 300 of today's most common idioms.

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What is ESL Podcast?

2009-01-23T09:51:00.000-08:00

Who is ESLPod.com?

ESLPod.com is run by a team of experienced English as a Second Language professors with over 30 years of high school, adult, and university ESL teaching experience. Dr. Lucy Tse writes scripts and story ideas for the podcasts, and records many of the dialogs and stories. The host for the podcast is Dr. Jeff McQuillan, who helps read the scripts and provides explanations for them.
Both Dr. Tse and Dr. McQuillan received a Ph.D. in applied linguistics and education at the University of Southern California. Dr. Tse was a professor of applied linguistics and education at Loyola Marymount University, Arizona State University, and California State University, Los Angeles. Dr. McQuillan was a professor of applied linguistics at California State University, Fullerton, and Arizona State University. Both are currently Senior Researchers at the Center for Educational Development, the sponsor of ESLPod.com.

Why are you doing this podcast?

For many people around the world, learning English is very important. Unfortunately, there are very few useful, effective sources for learning English. Most people take English classes, which help them up to a certain point. ESL Podcast is designed to help you continue to improve your English.

What’s so different about ESL Podcast?

Well, first, all of our podcasts are free to anyone who wants them. Second, ESL Podcast uses a very different approach than other courses or websites.
They believe the fastest way to improve your English is to listen to conversations and discussions you can understand. Many people try to improve their English bylistening or reading things that are too difficult. They understand only 40-50%, which means they are wasting half of their time!

What is the biggest word in English?

2009-01-20T11:58:00.000-08:00

What is the biggest word in English?

What is the biggest word in English language?

What is the largest word in English language?

What is the longest word in English language?

Did you know that the longest word in the English language (separate from proper nouns) is a science word?

It is pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanokoniosis. This word has 45 letters. Can you figure out what it means? To figure it out, you can approach it the way you approach any word you don’t know. Take the parts of the word you do know and define them one at a time, finally putting the entire word back together. The first part you see above is pneumono, which should remind you of pneumonia, a disease of the lung. Secondly, you should recognize ultra, which means “very”. Next, you will notice the prefix micro, which means “tiny”. Next is the term scopic, which means “to see”. Then you notice the prefix silico, which is like silicon, the natural earth element from which computer chips are made. The next word is volcano, which you are probably familiar with. The last suffix is koniosis, which refers to a disease caused by dust. By taking all these meanings and putting them together, you will now see “disease of the lung, very, tiny, to see, silicon, volcano, disease caused by dust”. With a little work, you should be able to figure out that this is a lung disease caused from breathing in very tiny silicon dust particles, perhaps from an erupting volcano. In other words, it is similar to black lung, a disease coal miners can have.

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanokoniosis

The full text of President Obama’s Inaugural Address

2009-01-20T11:52:00.000-08:00

The full text of President Obama’s Inaugural Address

Barack Obama has been sworn in as the 44th US president.
Here is his inauguration speech in full.

My fellow citizens:
I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and co-operation he has shown throughout this transition.
Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms.
At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we, the people, have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.
So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

Serious challenges
That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.
These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.
Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met.
On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.
On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

Nation of 'risk-takers'
We remain a young nation, but in the words of scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.
In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.
For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and travelled across oceans in search of a new life.
For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and ploughed the hard earth.
For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.

'Remaking America'
Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.
This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.
For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. All this we will do.

Restoring trust
Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.
What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply.
The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.
Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control - that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on the ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart - not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

'Ready to lead'
As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our founding fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and we are ready to lead once more.
Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with the sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.
We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort - even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

'Era of peace'
For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.
To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.
To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

'Duties'
As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.
For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.
Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths.
What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

'Gift of freedom'
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.
This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.
This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.
So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have travelled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:
"Let it be told to the future world... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive... that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."
America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.
Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/obama_inauguration/7840646.stm

What do they look like?

2009-01-18T09:54:00.000-08:00

What does he look like?
What does she look like? What do they look like?

General Appearance
beautiful, pretty, gorgeous, handsome, good-looking, ugly, hideous

Hair
straight, wavy, curly, frizzy
short, medium-length, shoulder-length, long
bushy, oily, spiky, tousled, permed, dyed + color
auburn, carroty, blond = blonde, frosted, ginger = gingery,
grizzled, pepper-and-salt, raven, mousy
to have a part(Am) = parting(Br), ponytail
bald = balding, hairless, hairy

Age
Young, middle-aged, old, elderly

Face
to wear glasses, contact lenses
to grow or have a beard, a mustache
to grow or have or wear a thin/thick=wide/short/long/angled/pointed sideburns
to have a mole, line = wrinkle on face
to have a flat/snub/pointed nose

Height
(somewhat/fairly/pretty/really/very/extremely) short or tall, medium height

Others
thin, slim, slender, skinny
obese, fat, overweight, big, chubby, plump, burly, chunky, well-built, strongly-built

What's the weather like today?

2009-01-18T09:26:00.000-08:00

What is the weather like?
Here are some adjectives you can use to describe the weather:

boiling/scorching
hot
warm
cool
cold
freezing

sunny
rainy
snowy
cloudy

balmy: pleasantly warm, with a gentle wind blowing
windy
blustery: very windy

foggy
hazy: not clear, especially because there is a slight mist caused by heat or smoke

Muharram

2009-01-18T09:14:00.000-08:00

Muharram (Muharram, Moharram, Muharam, Moharam)

Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four months of the year in which fighting is prohibited. Since the Islamic calendar is lunar, Muharram moves from year to year when compared with the Gregorian calendar.

Muharram is so called because it was unlawful to fight during this month; the word is derived from the word ‘haram’ meaning forbidden. It is held to be the most sacred of all the months, excluding Ramadan. Some Muslims fast during these days. The tenth day of Muharram is called Yaumu-l 'Ashurah, meaning, ‘the tenth day’, and it is a day of voluntary fasting. Fasting differs among the Muslim groupings; mainstream Shia Muslims stop eating and drinking during sunlight hours but do not fast until the evening. Sunni Muslims also fast during Muharram and on either the ninth or the eleventh day, the choice of which additional day being at the discretion of the individual.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muharram

Toefl

2009-01-18T09:10:00.000-08:00

The world's most common requirement for university and college admissions, ETS TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is an English proficiency test that opens more doors to study abroad.
The TOEFL® test is the most widely accepted English-language test in the world. No matter where you want to study, the TOEFL test can help get you there.

http://www.toefl.org/

Arrogance diminishes wisdom

2009-01-07T11:54:00.001-08:00

"Arrogance diminishes wisdom." Arabic proverb

Main religions in the world

2009-01-04T11:38:00.000-08:00

There are five major faiths in the world

Faith	Member(n)	Related (adj)	Book
Islam	Muslim	Muslim	The Koran
Buddhism	Buddhist	Buddhist	The Buddhist Scriptures
Hinduism	Hindu	Hindu	The Hindu Scriptures
Christianity	Christian	Christian	The Bible
Judaism	Jew	Jewish	The Hebrew Scriptures

Founder	Place	Clergy
Mohammad	Mosque	Mullah
Gautama Buddha	Temple	-
-(Gandhi)	Ashram	-
Jesus Christ	Church	Priest
Moses	Synagogue	Rabbi

Three branches of Christianity:

Orthodoxy (Orthodox)
Catholicism (Catholic)
Protestantism (Protestant)

Church -> priest
Cathedral -> bishop
Abbey -> abbot , abbess
Monastery -> monk
Convent (= nunnery) -> nun

To Convert
to persuade someone to change to a different religion or to change to a different religion

European missionaries converted thousands to Christianity.
In 1976 he converted to Islam.

I didn't fight my way to ...

2009-01-04T09:06:00.000-08:00

I didn't fight my way to the top of the food chain to be a vegetarian.

Beauty is in the eye of the ...

2009-01-04T09:01:00.000-08:00

Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.

Note
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder: used to say that different people have different opinions about what is beautiful

Losing a wife can be ...

2009-01-04T08:59:00.000-08:00

Losing a wife can be hard. In my case it was almost impossible.

I haven't spoken to my wife ...

2009-01-04T08:57:00.000-08:00

I haven't spoken to my wife in 18 months. I don't like to interrupt her.

How do you get a blonde on the roof?

2009-01-04T08:55:00.000-08:00

How do you get a blonde on the roof?
....tell her drinks are on the house.

Note
on the house: provided free by a business - especially a bar or restaurant

The room at the hotel was not ready when we arrived so they provided us with free drinks on the house.

Which branch of the military do babies join?

2009-01-04T08:54:00.000-08:00

Which branch of the military do babies join?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
The infantry!

hamed-answers

2008-12-28T22:40:00.000-08:00

Lately, I have run a new weblog to gather my answers to others' questions.
Here is the address:
http://hamed-answers.blogspot.com/

Links of Dictionaries

2008-12-28T09:07:00.000-08:00

The Free Dictionary
The world's most comprehensive dictionary

Dictionary.com
Dictionary.com is a multi-source dictionary search service

Onelook.com
More than 5 million words in more than 900 online dictionaries are indexed by the OneLook® search engine.

Cambridge
Cambridge dictionaries range from intermediate to proficiency level. They are clear, completely up-to-date and very easy to use.

Kaplan GRE Exam 2009 Premier Program

2008-12-28T08:56:00.000-08:00

Kaplan GRE Exam 2009 Premier Program

The Education Testing Service continues to make gradual changes to the content of the GRE. But with this unique multi-format preparation program, students will receive the most accurate, timely details on the GRE test change.

With features such as updates and useful resources on test changes posted directly to your online syllabus, test takers can depend on Kaplan for the most complete and up-to-the-minute information.

This customized study program includes:

The latest information on the November 2007 updates, including samples of the two new question types with detailed answer explanations.

Up-to-the-minute GRE updates online
5 full-length practice tests (1 in the book, 1 online, and 3 on CD-ROM)
Hundreds of additional practice questions
Detailed answer explanations
Interactive online study plan and progress report that adapts to your goals and schedule
Diagnostic test to target areas for score improvement
Kaplan-exclusive score-raising strategies
Essential tactics for the computer-adaptive test (CAT) format

WHY DO YOU KEEP CALLING

2008-12-28T08:49:00.000-08:00

A guy phones up his Boss, but gets the bosses' wife instead:
"I'm afraid he died last week." she explains.

The next day the man calls again and asks for the boss.
"I told you" the wife replies, "he died last week."
The next day he calls again and once more asks to speak to his boss.
By this time the wife is getting upset and shouts:
"I'VE ALREADY TOLD YOU TWICE, MY HUSBAND, YOUR BOSS, DIED LAST WEEK!
WHY DO YOU KEEP CALLING?"
.
.
.

He replied laughing, "Coz . . ." "I just love hearing it!"

Verbal Workout for the GRE Exam

2008-12-28T08:44:00.000-08:00

Verbal Workout for the GRE Exam (Princeton Review Series)

GRE Verbal Workout is the only book on the market devoted exclusively to raising students' scores on the demanding verbal section of the GRE

Features proven techniques for acing the analogy, reading comprehension, antonym, and sentence completion sections of the testContains the Hit Parade--a computer-generated list of more than 300 words that most frequently appear on the GRE

GRE: Practicing to Take the General Test 10th Edition

2008-12-28T08:34:00.000-08:00

GRE: Practicing to Take the General Test 10th Edition (Practicing to Take the Gre General Test)

The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) General Test consists of verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing sections. This book is the only test prep guide that contains questions and topics from actual tests administered worldwide. It contains verbal and quantitative questions from seven actual GRE General Tests and sample analytical writing topics from the complete pool of topics for the analytical writing measure. It includes information about the structure of the test, answering procedures, explanations of correct answers for verbal and quantitative questions, sample writing responses with scores, scoring information, a math review, and test-taking strategies.

Crash Course for the GRE: 10 Easy Steps to a Higher Score

2008-12-28T08:22:00.000-08:00

Crash Course for the GRE: 10 Easy Steps to a Higher Score (Princeton Review Series)

10 SIMPLE STEPS TO A HIGHER SCORE--IN LESS THAN 1 WEEK!
If the big test is staring you right in the face and you feel doomed, then here's your last-minute reprieve: a GRE book designed exclusively for the student who's running out of time.
We may not be able to turn you into a genius overnight, but we can give you the essential tools and rules you need to get a good score. Practice the 10 steps in this book and you'll have The Princeton Review advantage. Here's what you get:

The 10 strategies you positively must know to ace the exam
100 practice questions that will help you apply and perfect these techniques
Detailed answer explanations that help you avoid making the same mistake twice

Cookie dough

2008-12-26T11:27:00.000-08:00

Every year, Grandma and her grandkids, Suzy, Jill, and Billy come stay with her over Christmas. And every Christmas Eve they would make a big bowl of cookie dough so they could make cookies on Christmas Day. And every time, the next morning the cookie dough would be gone. The grandma could never catch them, so this year she put metal bb's in the cookie dough. The next morning, the cookie dough was gone and soon Suzy came running downstairs.
''Grandma, I went to the bathroom to pee and bb's came out.''
"Suzy," Grandma said. "I know you've been eating cookie dough. Sit down." Then Jill came down and said ''Grandma, I went poo and there were bb's in it.''
"Jill, I know you've been eating cookie dough. Sit down." About five minutes later little Billy came.
''Grandma something terrible has happened, I was jerking off in the garage and I shot the cat!''

Note

dough = a mixture of flour and water ready to be baked into bread

to jerk off = to masturbate

bb = small metal pellet used in an air rifle or pistol

Never argue with an idiot.

2008-12-26T10:32:00.000-08:00

Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to theirlevel then beat you with experience.

How to read a fraction?

2008-12-25T12:02:00.000-08:00

How to read a fraction?
In a fraction, the denominator tells us how many parts the whole is divided into, and the numerator tells us how many of those parts we're dealing with.

We can read this fraction as four-fifths, four over five, or four divided by five.

The number above the bar is called the numerator, and the number below the bar is called the denominator.

Proper fraction: numerator is less than the denominator. (Ex. 1/2, 2/5)
Improper fraction: numerator is greater than or equal to denominator. (Ex. 3/2, 8/5)
Mixed number: whole number and a fraction. (Ex. 2 3/5, 4 6/7)
Equivalent fractions: fractions that represent the same number. (Ex. 1/3=2/6=3/9)
Reciprocal: the multiplicative inverse of a number. For a fraction, it's obtained by "turning the fraction over". (Ex. 3/7 and 7/3)

Examples:
1/2 a half

11/16 eleven sixteenth

1/3 a/one third

4 2/5 four and two fifths

1/4 a/one quarter

1/16 a/one sixteenth

236/407 two hundred thirty six over four hundred and seven

0.3 nought point three

0.527 nought point three seven five

8.9 eight point nine

1.5 one and a half

2.5 two and a half

With fractions below 1, we use of before nouns. Half is a little bit different.
three quarters of an houreight tenth of a milea fifth of students

For decimals below 1, you can use of or a plural noun.
nought point seven of a mile = nought point seven miles

Fractions and decimals over 1 are normally followed by plural nouns.
One and a half hours2.7 millimeters

To express amounts and measurements, use singular verbs with fractions and decimals.
3.6 kilometer is about 2 miles.

But to express numbers of people or things, use plural verbs.
Half the students are tired.A fifth of the tickets have been sold.

We can use a or one. One is more formal.
a hundred (less formal)one hundred (more formal)

A can only be used at the beginning of a number.
a/one hundredthree thousands one hundred , three thousands a hundred

GRE Test for Dummies 5th Edition

2008-12-22T01:42:00.000-08:00

GRE Test for Dummies 5th Edition

It goes without saying that if you're taking the GRE you're not really a dummy. But GRE scores are an important part of any graduate-school application--so you need to do your best. Suzee Vlk, long time test-prep specialist and author of several Dummies books, can help. The GRE for Dummies is packed with useful information and strategies to help you prepare for the test. The book includes advice on how to use the book efficiently (Vlk estimates you'll need 31 hours to work through it), review chapters for all three sections of the exam, and two complete practice exams. Vlk also discusses the pros and cons of taking the GRE by computer or with paper and pencil and special advice for those who choose to take the computer-based test. In familiar Dummies style, Vlk includes a handy tear-out "Cheat Sheet" with a summary of the most important information and a "Part of Tens" section with 10 "wrong rumors" about the GRE and 10 relaxation techniques to use before and during the exam. With its witty writing, helpful icons in the margins pointing out important information, and useful vocabulary scattered throughout, The GRE for Dummies makes test preparation easy and relatively painless. --C. B. Delaney --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Whether you’re a college senior or someone who graduated years ago, you’ll want this friendly guide to help you ace the GRE and get into grad school. Revised to address the test’s new computer-adaptive format, this book prepares you for everything from analogies to algebra to analytical writing – with plenty of hints for beating the clock!

How to build a better world

2008-12-22T01:39:00.000-08:00

"With realization of one's own potential and self-confidence in one's ability, one can build a better world." -- Dalai Lama (1935 -)

Arco's Master the GRE Cat 2005

2008-12-22T01:29:00.000-08:00

Arco's Master the GRE Cat 2005

Written by an expert in the field, this comprehensive guide is the serious test-taker's key to success on the computer-adaptive GRE. With more exercises, practice questions, and drills than any other guide, it offers the hands-on training that makes the Master series students' #1 choice. Heavy emphasis is on repeated practice, and crucial test-taking techniques are reinforced with skill-building drills to help develop the test-readiness students need to reach their score goals. The CD features additional practice and the Private Tutor Lecture Series. Expert advice from the author himself with accompanying visual presentation.

Features and Benefits:

Hundreds of practice questions, from analogies to quantitative comparisons.
CD containing Private Tutor Lecture Series and an additional GRE CAT practice tests.
Book has 6 practice tests.
Access to The Author's Edge, which is a Web-based study and application aid that includes interactive diagnostic tests and additional drills for each GRE question type (Internet access required).
Structured subject reviews covering every test section.
Authoritative test-taking secrets from a veteran test-prep pro.
An even-handed introduction to computer-adaptive testing.
Full coverage of the Analytical Writing Assessment.
An expanded GRE word list.

GRE Prep Course by Jeff Kolby

2008-12-22T01:21:00.000-08:00

GRE Prep Course by Jeff Kolby

Every year students pay as much as $1,000 to test prep companies to prepare for the GRE. Now you can get the same preparation in a book. GRE Prep Course provides the equivalent of a 2-month, 50-hour course.

Although the GRE is a difficult test, it is a very learnable test. GRE Prep Course presents a thorough analysis of the GRE and introduces numerous analytic techniques that will help you immensely, not only on the GRE but in graduate school as well.

Features:

Math: Twenty-two chapters provide comprehensive review of all the math properties you need for the GRE.
Verbal: Develop the ability to spot places from which questions are likely to be drawn as you read a passage (pivotal words, counter-premises, etc.). Also, learn the 4000 essential GRE words
Writing: Comprehensive analysis of the writing task, including writing techniques, punctuation, grammar, rhetoric, and style.
Mentor Exercises: These exercises provide hints, insight, and partial solutions to ease your transition from seeing GRE problems solved to solving them on your own.
Detailed solutions to hundreds of GRE questions!

Software Features:

Mentor Mode: In Mentor Mode, you are immediately told whether you answered a problem correctly, and you can immediately view a detailed solution of the problem.
Test Mode: In Test Mode, you can take a test timed and scored by the program.

Barron's How to Prepare for the GRE

2008-12-22T01:17:00.000-08:00

Barron's How to Prepare for the GRE

Updated to reflect the most recent Graduate Record Exams, this manual presents six full-length model tests with answers and explanations. It also offers intensive subject review in all test topics, which include antonym questions, analogy questions, sentence completion, reading comprehension, vocabulary, analytical writing, quantitative comparison, data interpretation, and mathematics. The all-important vocabulary review contains both a GRE high-frequency word list and a 3,500 master word list with definitions.

The CD-ROM presents a test that is unique to each test-taker (computer adaptive), based on the way its first question is answered. All of its model test questions are answered and explained, and exam results are scored automatically.

Peterson's Ultimate GRE Tool Kit 2005

2008-12-21T03:00:00.000-08:00

Peterson's Ultimate GRE Tool Kit 2005

Peterson’s Ultimate GRE Tool Kit offers the ultimate in preparation for the student who wants the top-of-the-line features no other book can match. In addition to the printed book, Peterson’s Ultimate GRE Tool Kit includes the following test prep tools: essay scoring and feedback, one-to-one math tutoring online, and a CD with 3 computer-adaptive practice tests. The book itself contains complete preparation for the GRE, including an essay-writing guide, a diagnostic test, detailed review of subject areas, test-taking strategies, and practice tests. Included are both intermediate and advanced learning and practice, allowing students to customize their study plan to meet their individual needs based on the results of their diagnostic test. Everything about this book makes clear this is a top-of-the-line product unlike anything that has previously been sold in bookstores. Peterson’s Ultimate GRE Tool Kit is not a revision of an old book but a completely new product designed for the serious GRE student who wants it all

Features:

Essay scoring and feedback—students can get 2 GRE essay prompts, write the essays online, and get immediate feedback and scoring
1 hour of one-to-one tutoring on math problems—students can go online 24 hours a day and get personalized help from a live math expert waiting to help students with questions
A total of 6 full-length practice tests, including 3 computer-adaptive practice tests on CD
Targeted diagnostic test to allow students to experience the test and get feedback to identify the areas in which they need improvement.
Comprehensive review of fundamental subject areas followed by test
like practice questions -Complete preparation for the GRE essay including strategies to improve your performance and score your best

Princeton Review - Cracking the GRE 2005

2008-12-21T02:56:00.000-08:00

Princeton Review - Cracking the GRE 2005

The Princeton Review realizes that acing the GRE is very different from getting straight A’s in school. We don’t try to teach you everything there is to know about mathematics and essay writing–only the techniques you’ll need to score higher on the exam. There’s a big difference. In Cracking the GRE, we’ll teach you how to think like the test writers and-Eliminate answer choices that look right but are planted to fool you-Raise your score by mastering the vocabulary words found most often on the GRE-Use Process of Elimination, Ballparking, and Aggressive Guessing to ace the exam-Master even the toughest sections: Analogies, Antonyms, Equations, and the Essay section-Practice taking the GRE in an online testing environment with instant scoring analysis

This book gives you 120 practice test questions covering each section of the exam, plus a CD-ROM with 4 full-length practice GRE tests and instant score reporting. Our practice questions are like the ones you’ll see on the actual GRE, and we explain every solution.

Kaplan - GRE Exam 2005

2008-12-21T02:39:00.000-08:00

Kaplan - GRE Exam 2005

Kaplan's GRE book comes complete with a comprehensive review of all the material on the exam, plus test-taking strategies to help maximize your GRE score. The CD-ROM program contains 3 full length computer adaptive practice tests with explanations for every answer and complete score analysis. On the whole a good GRE Book for Gre Prep.

Succeed on the computer-adaptive GRE with Kaplan's exclusive computer test-taking strategies.
Prepare with hundreds of practice questions to build your skills in the critical content areas of the GRE.
Practice with our challenging, full-length GRE, complete with a detailed explanation for every answer.
Score Higher with effective strategies and advice from Kaplan's expert instructors.

CD-ROM Features Include:

3 computer-adaptive practice tests
12 section-length practice tests
In-depth review of GRE math concepts
Personalized study plan
More than 700 flash cards
7 question-type tutorials

How to get a high score on GRE Quantitative?

2008-12-21T02:29:00.001-08:00

Listen, I'm going to do you a big favor, though you might not believe right now that it actually is a big favor. Here is the point:

In order to become skilled in mathematics you need to practice!

That doesn't really sound like much of a favor.
You might not appreciate it now, but I'm sure you'll appreciate it later, when you get it done.

Vocaboly

2008-12-19T22:44:00.000-08:00

Vocaboly is a vocabulary builder software for SAT, TOEFL, GRE, GMAT and general vocabulary. Vocaboly contains five books: SAT, TOEFL, GRE, GMAT and VOA Special English, with more than 12,000 words, each word provided with meaning, phonetic symbol and pronunciation.

http://www.vocaboly.com/

Each book contains eight flash cards for focusing on specified words. Each word can be assigned to a difficulty level from 0 to 5, which makes the vocabulary learning very efficient!

You can also create your own books and enjoy all the following innovative features:

Word Ticker
Recall
Spelling
Listening Test
Multi-Choice Test
Memory Game
A shoot game

A blonde went to ...

2008-12-19T13:31:00.000-08:00

A blonde went to the appliance store sale and found a bargain.
"I would like to buy this TV," she told the salesman.
"Sorry, we don't sell to blondes," he replied.
She hurried home and dyed her hair, then came back and again told the salesman, "I would like to buy this TV."
"Sorry, we don't sell to blondes," he replied.
"Darn, he recognized me," she thought.
She went for a complete disguise this time; haircut and new color, new outfit, big sunglasses, then waited a few days before she again approached the salesman. "I would like to buy this TV."
"Sorry, we don't sell to blondes," he replied.
Frustrated, she exclaimed, "How do you know I'm a blonde?"
"Because that's a microwave," he replied.

Note
darn = damn
Darn it! I'll have to do it all myself!

dye = to change the color of material or hair by using a special colored substance
She's dyed her hair red -- it looks so unnatural.

disguise = something that you wear to change your appearance
The woman in the park turned out to be a police officer in disguise.

exclaim = to say something suddenly and loudly
"What a beautiful house!'' she exclaimed.

Indifference will be the ...

2008-12-19T05:35:00.001-08:00

Indifference will be the downfall of mankind, but who cares?

What is so fragile even saying its name can break it?

2008-12-19T05:03:00.001-08:00

What is so fragile even saying its name can break it?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
silence

What can you put in a wood box that will make it lighter?

2008-12-19T04:40:00.000-08:00

What can you put in a wood box that will make it lighter?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
holes

ESL Printables

2008-12-19T04:39:00.000-08:00

ESL Printables, the website where English Language teachers exchange resources: worksheets, lesson plans, activities, etc.
Their collection is growing every day with the help of many teachers.
If you want to download you have to send your own contributions.

http://www.eslprintables.com

What goes up but never goes down?

2008-12-19T04:28:00.001-08:00

What goes up but never goes down?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
age

Why has no one ever spotted a leopard in Africa?

2008-12-19T04:25:00.000-08:00

Why has no one ever spotted a leopard in Africa?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
because they are already born with spots

What has 3 heads, is ugly, and smells bad?

2008-12-19T04:24:00.000-08:00

What has 3 heads, is ugly, and smells bad?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
oops, my mistake, you don't have 3 heads

What is in the middle of Paris?

2008-12-19T04:18:00.000-08:00

What is in the middle of Paris?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
thr letter r

What gets wetter the more it dries?

2008-12-19T04:15:00.000-08:00

What gets wetter the more it dries?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
towel

What city has no people?

2008-12-19T04:13:00.000-08:00

What city has no people?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
electricity

What kind of stones are never found in the ocean?

2008-12-19T04:12:00.000-08:00

What kind of stones are never found in the ocean?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
dry stones

What do lazy dogs do for fun?

2008-12-19T04:10:00.000-08:00

What do lazy dogs do for fun?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
chase parked cars

What vehicle is spelled the same backwards and forwards?

2008-12-19T04:08:00.000-08:00

What vehicle is spelled the same backwards and forwards?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
racecar

The polite bus driver

2008-12-18T09:29:00.000-08:00

A few days ago, a mother was working in the kitchen and listening to her son playing with his new electric trains in the living room.

She heard the train stop and her son said, "All you sons of bitches who want to get off, get the hell off now because this is the last stop. All of you sons of bitches who are getting on, get your asses on the train now, becausewe're leaving."

The mother went into the living room and told her son, "We don't use that kind of language in this house. Now go to your room for two hours. When you calm down, you may play with your trains as long as you use proper language."

Two hours later, the mother was still working in the kitchen when her son came out of his room and resumed playing with his trains.

The train stopped and the mother heard, "All passengers who are disembarking the train, please remember to take your belongings. We thank you for riding with us today and hope your trip was a pleasant one. For those just boarding, we ask that you stow your hand luggage under the seat and we hope you enjoy your trip. For those of you who are pissed off about the two hour delay, please see the bitch in the kitchen!"

Colored Coffee

2008-12-18T09:26:00.000-08:00

Waiter:
Would you like your coffee black?
Customer:
What other colors do you have?

Note:
Do you like your coffee white or black?
white coffee = with milk
black coffee = without milk

I won’t be of much help anyway!!

2008-12-18T09:23:00.000-08:00

Manager:
Sorry, but I can’t give you a job.
I don’t need much help.
Job Applicant:
That’s all right.
In fact I’m just the right person in this case.
You will see, I won’t be of much help anyway!!

I may not be the best, but ...

2008-12-18T09:15:00.000-08:00

I may not be the best looking guy here, but I'm the only one talking to you.

Life is all about a card game

2008-12-18T09:01:00.000-08:00

Life is all about a card game.
Choosing the right cards is not in our hand.
But playing well with
the cards in hand, determines our Success

Good FRIENDS are ...

2008-12-18T08:44:00.000-08:00

Good FRIENDS are hard to find,
harder to leave,
and impossible to forget.

Boys go to college to ...

2008-12-18T08:42:00.000-08:00

Boys go to college to develop the mind; girls go to college to catch them before this happens.

Arguing with boss is like ...

2008-12-18T08:37:00.000-08:00

Arguing with boss is like wrestling with a pig in the mud. After some time, you realize that you are getting dirty, but the pig is actually enjoying

A mother makes her son ...

2008-12-18T08:35:00.000-08:00

A mother makes her son "INTELLIGENT" in 20 years, but a girl makes him "FOOL" in 2 mins.

A car going the wrong way

2008-12-18T08:31:00.001-08:00

As a senior citizen was driving down the freeway, his car phone rang.
Answering, he heard his wife's voice urgently warning him,
"Herman, I just heard on the news that there's a car going the
wrong way on 280. Please be careful!"
"Hell," said Herman, "It's not just one car. It's hundreds of
them!"

Your mama

2008-12-18T08:29:00.001-08:00

Your mama is so fat, when she passed by the TV, I missed a full season of Friends.

ASL01 - Longman - TOEFL® IBT - CDROM Material

2008-12-18T07:53:00.000-08:00

Longman - TOEFL® IBT - CDROM Material

ASL01

Listen to a lecture in a botany class.
Today, we're going to be talking about insectivorous plants. As you know, we have a field trip tomorrow. We'll be going to the botanical gardens, and we're going to be seeing some insectivorous plants there.
Do you understand what insectivorous plants are? Insectivorous plants are plants that trap and assimilate insects in order to sustain life. You may understand the meaning of insectivore from related words such as carnivore or herbivore: a carnivore eats meat, and an herbivore eats plants, while an insectivore devours insects. But—unlike carnivores and herbivores, which are animals—the insectivores that we're going to discuss today are plants.
All insectivorous plants contain chlorophyll and have roots, so they don't get all of their nutrients from the insects they take in. Insectivorous plants tend to live in soil that lacks enough nitrogen for them to exist, so they consume their insect victims in order to get the nitrogen they need. There're many types of insectivorous plants in the world—there're perhaps 500 known species of insectivorous plants worldwide. Of these many types of insectivorous plants, we're going to look at one of the better known ones in depth.
The insectivorous plant that we're going to discuss in detail is the Venus flytrap, which is native to North America. Now look at the drawing of the Venus flytrap on the screen. The Venus flytrap catches insects by suddenly snapping the ends of one of its trap leaves around an insect. You can see in the diagram that a Venus flytrap has a number of trap leaves and that each trap leaf is divided into two parts. Inside the two parts of the trap leaf are three sensory bristles, sensory bristles which resemble tiny hairs. When an insect touches the bristles inside a trap leaf, the two surfaces of the leaf shut instantaneously, and the insect's trapped inside the parts of the leaf. The Venus flytrap then discharges a digestive liquid into the leaf in order to assimilate the insect and obtain the nitrogen the plant needs in order to survive.

That's all for today on the Venus flytrap. I hope that from our discussion of the Venus flytrap you've developed a clearer understanding of how this and other insectivorous plants function. You'll need it for the trip tomorrow.

Longman - IBT - CDROM Material

AML01 - Longman - TOEFL® IBT - CDROM Material

2008-12-18T07:49:00.000-08:00

Longman - TOEFL® IBT - CDROM Material

AML01

Listen to a conversation between a student and a professor.
Hi, Professor Harley. Could I talk with you for a moment? I have a question for you.
Sure, Tom. What’s your question?
Well, I’m in your class, the Eastern Cultures class at 9:00.
Yes, I know.
And we have that big research project due next month.
Yes, you do.
And I was wondering…wondering…if…uh…
What’s your question, Tom? Aren’t you sure what you’re supposed to be doing for the research project?
No, it’s not that.
Well, what’s your question?
I was wondering if it would be possible to…um…turn in the project late.
You want to turn the project in late? But you’ve got more than a month to finish it. You have plenty of time to get it done before the due date….
Well, you see, I’m going to be missing a few days of school next month….
You are? Why’s that?
I have a really good reason for missing school…and delaying the project. You see, my brother…my older brother…well…he’s getting married then. It’s going to be a really big wedding and I’m going to be part of the wedding…so…. I’ll have to, to miss a few days of school next month…for the wedding.
Well, your brother’s wedding sounds like a good reason to miss a couple of days of school…. But…well…what’s that got to do with the research paper?
You see, the research paper’s due on one of the days I’m going to be gone…for my brother’s wedding.
Uh-huh….
So I’d really appreciate it if I didn’t have to finish the research project until after the wedding…maybe a week…or two weeks…or so…after the wedding.
But the wedding’s not for another month from now. You have plenty of time to get the project done before you leave for the wedding.
I was hoping I could put it off until after the wedding…so I wouldn’t have to worry about it until then.
Listen, I’m going to do you a big favor, though you might not believe right now that it actually is a big favor. I want you to get the project done now, get it done early, before the wedding. That way, you won’t have it hanging over your head during the wedding.
That doesn’t really sound like much of a favor.
You might not appreciate it now, but I’m sure you’ll appreciate it later.

Longman - IBT - CDROM Material

ATL01 - Longman - TOEFL® IBT - CDROM Material

2008-12-18T07:43:00.000-08:00

Longman - TOEFL® IBT - CDROM Material

ATL01

Listen to a conversation between a student and a worker on campus.
Next, please…yes, how can I help you?
I’m here to apply for a job on campus.
Have you filled out the application?
Yes, I have. Here it is.
OK. Let me have it…and now let me ask you a few questions. First of all, do you have any computer skills?
Yes, I’ve been working on computers since I was six years old.
Good, because we have a number of jobs available that require computer skills. Now, are you prepared to be responsible? Will you show up for work when you’re scheduled?
Of course.
When can you work? It says here that your classes are on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings and Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, so are you free to work when you’re not in class?
Yes, I can work on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons and Tuesday and Thursday mornings. I can also work on the weekends; I’m available then.
Oh, we deal only with university offices, and they’re not open on the weekends.
That’s too bad because I’d like to work then.
You want to work on the weekends? You want to work only on the weekends?
No, sorry, that’s not what I meant. I’d like to work as many hours as possible. I’m free Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons and Tuesday and Thursday mornings, and I’m also available to work on the weekend…but it sounds like you don’t have any work available on weekends. I really do want to work on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons and Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
OK, I see now, sorry for the confusion. I do possibly have some work available during the week when you’re not in class…OK, you said earlier that you have good computer skills.
Yes, I use computers all the time now.
Then it sounds as if you’re quite comfortable using a computer.
I think so.
And you’re available from one o’clock until five o’clock on, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and from eight o’clock until noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays?
I am.
Good. I have a job opening that requires good computer skills. Also, that’s a total of 20 hours per week, and that’s the maximum time that a student can work on campus.
Twenty hours a week sounds great to me!
Are you available to start next Monday?
I’m available even before that. I’m even available right now.
Well, you don’t need to start right now. Monday’s soon enough.

Longman - IBT - CDROM Material